Start Right Live Long: The Importance of a Healthy Start to Life in Improving Health Disparities in Aboriginal Australians

Professor Roger Smith, Professor Patrick Furey, Dr Rachel Burgess, Dr Kym Rae

The current population structure of most Aboriginal communities with large numbers of premature births of small babies and teenage pregnancies is a major contributor to poor educational and health outcomes for this group within our society.

The Start Right, Live Long project aims to develop culturally appropriate programs which are aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy through in-depth education of fertility control (contraceptive usage), the concept that a healthy mother leads to a healthy baby, and an improved understanding of the role that medical care (antenatal services) play in pregnancy and early childhood development. Using innovative methods and teaching practices, project staff will deliver a strong message regarding the importance of a healthy start to life.

This project is a collaboration with the Mothers and Babies Research Centre